Background:

Established in 1968 through an act of the State legislature, the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA) is a public benefit corporation dedicated to managing and sustaining a vibrant, balanced community on the Lower West Side of Manhattan. BPCA transformed a deteriorating section of the Hudson River, where abandoned piers once stood, into a mixed residential and commercial space that includes 36 acres of public parks and hosts hundreds of arts, cultural, recreational, and educational programs annually. The Battery Park City Authority also oversees major capital projects, including climate adaptation initiatives to protect the neighborhood’s waterfront, and manages a portfolio of ground leases and other real estate assets to ensure the long-term vitality of the community.

Led by its President and CEO in collaboration with a seven-member Board of Directors, BPCA remains responsive to the evolving needs of its nearly 17,000 residents and thriving commercial sector. BPCA serves as a model of environmentally responsible urban development and has partnered with 100 Resilient Cities and local stakeholders to develop its first Resilience Action Plan. This plan promotes inclusivity, advances innovative climate resiliency and sustainability practices, and upholds the highest standards in stewardship of public spaces and resources. As remaining development projects are completed and the neighborhood dynamics evolve, BPCA continues to modernize its operational systems, emphasizing long-term stewardship, financial oversight, and operational excellence to support increasingly complex initiatives.

The Position:

The Project Director will lead a team of Project Managers and Senior Project Managers in the successful delivery of a large-scale coastal resiliency initiative, specifically the North/West Resiliency Project. Working closely with the Senior Vice President of Design and Construction, the Project Director will establish and maintain project management standards, oversee performance across multiple projects, and ensure alignment with BPCA’s long-term infrastructure and resiliency goals. This role will be responsible for driving both team effectiveness and project success through strong leadership, structured processes, and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in urban construction and coastal resiliency projects. They will demonstrate exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage complex projects and multiple concurrent priorities. The Project Director will bring a strategic mindset, sound judgment, and a commitment to delivering projects on time and within budget while maintaining consistently high standards of quality and establishing and maintaining a positive work environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Standards, Processes & Continuous Improvement

• Establish and maintain protocols and methodologies for scheduling and project reporting.
• Lead the continuous evaluation of project processes and recommend areas of improvement. 
• Assist a Design and Construction Resource Group with the creation of the Program Management guide covering the entirety of project delivery to standardize implementation.
• Provide written executive summaries and prepare other concise written documents summarizing project history and identifying areas for process improvement. 

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Perform project management functions for BPCA for the N/W resiliency project, including procurement, contracting, construction oversight, management of third-party construction managers and contractors, inspections, and project closeout functions.
• Lead, mentor, and coach project managers on the team.
• Track progress of each project against goals, objectives, budget, and schedule. 
• Manage construction and project management related training for the department.
• Assist in evaluating new team members and making recommendations on employee personnel decisions. 
• Utilize sound judgement about when to work independently and when to pull in BPCA leadership. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Stakeholder Coordination & Communication

• Evaluate and communicate the client’s specific goals and expectations.
• Lead the communications with and between the team members on a continuous and as needed basis, ensuring Project Team members communicate in an effective manner.
• Validate team input and conduct weekly meetings to communicate project status and risks to stakeholders and resolve potential risks. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in urban planning, landscape architecture or construction management

• Minimum of ten plus (10+) years of experience in the oversight of urban infrastructure planning, design and construction, three (3) of which are at a senior or management level; Experience with coastal and/or urban resiliency projects is a plus.
• Previous experience at a commercial GC or A&E firm managing complex projects in waterfront, marine, or heavy infrastructure programs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of construction, engineering, and architectural principles on large scale construction projects within the NYC market.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee and coordinate large interdisciplinary project teams and successfully manage project budgets, schedules, and work scopes.
• Ability to manage and maintain business relationships through motivation, delegation, supervision, team building, and conflict management.
• Strong leadership skills, including ability to delegate, exhibit confidence in self and others, inspiring and motivating others, commanding respect and trust and accepting feedback from subordinates.
• Ability to support evolving organizational goals and to align departmental efforts with long-term vision.

• Proven track record in strategic planning and process improvement.

Compensation: Salary in the range of $150,000 - $165,000, annually.

This is a full-time, exempt role at BPCA. The work location is 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10281.

BPCA is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All qualified people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

For more information about BPCA, please visit their website at https://bpca.ny.gov

To Apply:

Battery Park City Authority has retained the services of Harris Rand Lusk to conduct this search. Inquiries, nominations, and applications may be directed in confidence to:

Raydel Rijo

Research and Operations Manager

Harris Rand Lusk

260 Madison Avenue, 15^th Floor

New York, NY  10016

rrijo@harrisrand.com

Email cover letter and resume to: rrijo@harrisrand.com
Please include “BPCA, PD” in the subject line of the email.

About Battery Park City Authority

Harris Rand Lusk (HRL) is an executive search firm supporting nonprofit organizations and their boards, government, and other mission-based entities all over the world in their pursuit of exceptional leaders and senior managers. We bring our expertise, determination, and integrity to the business of securing the strongest leadership possible and making a positive impact in the community.

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